Electric igniter for gas-engines.



No. 634,430. Patented Oct. 3, |899.

W. H. CUTTON. ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES.

(Application led Oct. 24, 1898.) (N o M o d e l.

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WALTER II. COTTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,430, dated October 3, 1899. Application filed October 24, 1898. Serial No. 694,470. (No model.)

A To all 'lL/'hoot 'it 'Ht/.l/,l/ conce/"lt:

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful 1mprovement in Electric Igniters for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this device are to secure a maximum of efiiciency with a minimum output of mechanical apparatus and at the same time eliminate the noise and vibration usually accompanying apparatus of this character; also, in view of its simplicity reducing cost of construction without impairing its efficiency.

The apparatus is illustrated in'the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a plan view showing the electromagnetic operator. Fig. 2 is a View of the mechanical parts which communicate With the firing-chamber. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on line a b, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing its application to an engine of the two-cycle type, also showing the mode of wiring and means for opening and closing the electric Circuit. Fig. 5 is a side view of the cam and brush, showing the brush-holder in cross-section on line cf, Fig. 4. Fig. G is a detail sectional vier of the armature and connections to shaft 19 on line c d, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the armature.

Similar numerals refer to 'similar parts throughout the several views.

In the construction of my igniter I provide the electromagnets 3 and 3', armature 4, shaft 19, movable electrode 12, and post 11, all installed in a plate 1, adapted to be rigidly secured to that part of an engine best adapted to communicate with the firing-chamber. The eleotromagnets 3 and 3 are connected in series. The terminals 14 and 14 ofthe magnet-coils are connected to posts 9 and l1, respectively, which are insulated from plate 1, as shown by 30 and 31. rihe latter post 11 projects through plate 1 and provides a lixed electrode for movable electrode 12. The former post 9 is connected to a battery 28 by the Wire 27. 27 is extended to a brush 24, shown fastened rigidly to the engine-bearing 2O by a brushholder 23, which is insulated from (see 32) a bearing for said shaft.

Froln the battery 28 the Wire and provided with means of adjustment 26 on said bearing. y

On shaft 21 of the engine is rigidly secured a cam 22, provided with a projection 25.,Which communicates with brush 24 at every revolution of shaft 21. The contact of the cam with the brush completes the circuit for a two-cycle engine (in the case of a four-cycle engine the cam should make one revolution to two of the crank-shaft) by means of what is termed the ground-circuit which is es= tablished by this connection.

The armature 4 consists of a iiat piece of metal projecting from a collar l5, and from said collar also projects an arm 7. Collar 15 is adapted to fit on a sleeve 1G, from which is an extension 8, carrying two lugs 6 and 6', in which are inserted two set-screws 5 and 5'. Said set-screws are adapted to abut against arm 7 when collar 15 is placed in position on the sleeve, and therefore form a means of adjustment for armature 4, as Will be more clearly seen hereinafter.

Sleeve 16 and movable electrode 12 are rigidly connected to shaftv19, which passes Jthrough plate 1, a boss on said plate forming It will be seen in Fig. (S that the sleeve 1G is slightly longer than collar 1.5, and when placed in position on shaft 19 'is held rigidly by a Washer and nut 17 and 18, respectively, against a shoulder on the shaft, leaving the armature-collar free to turn and to be adjusted by the setscrews. The movable electrode 12 extends to the post 1 l and forms connection therewith at the point 29. Said movable electrode is held in this position by a spring 29, hooked to the armature.

An extension 2 from plate 1 serves as a support and head-plate for the electromagnets 3 and 3', which are held thereto by screw-bolts 10 and 10, and also serves as aseat forbinding-post 9.

In the operation of this igniter it will be observed that cam 22 communicates with brush 24 at the proper period of ignition, closes the circuit, and excites the electromagnets, causing them to exert their magnetic force upon the armature which extends within the magnetic ield. The movable electrode being normally in contact at point 29 is Withdrawn by the action of the armature and its connections,

IOO

. nected with said arma-ture, a fixed electrode breaking the circuit and eausinga spark to be emitted between the contact-points. It will be observed that when the circuit is broken by the withdrawal of the contact-points from each other the magnetic force upon the armature ceases and the contact-points are drawn to their normal position by the tension of lspring 25).

One of the many important features of this igniter is that the most ei'iicient period of ignition can be readily attained while the engine is in motion bythe adjustment of the brush-holder upon bearing 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

l. In an electric igniter for gas-engines, an armature provided with a means of adjustment, a movable electrode operatively conprojecting from a post which passes through and is insulated from a plate adapted to be secured to the cylinder of the engine, electromagnets secu red to said plate electrically connected with a battery and adapted to provide energy for operating said movable electrode by means of said armature.

2. In an electric igniterforgas-engines,elec tromagnets attached to a plate adapted to be secured to the cylinder of an engine, a wire connecting the eleetromagnets with a battery, i

a brush stationary on and insulated from the engine, a cam adapted to communicate with the brush, a wire connecting the brush with the battery, an armature within the magnetic field of the electromagnets provided with a means of adjustment, a movable electrode operatively connected with the said armature, a fixed electrode projecting from a post which passes through, and is insulated from said plate, and connected with a terminal of the eleetromagnet-coils.

il. In an igniter for gasengiues electromagnets connected in series and secured to a plate adapted to be attached to the cylinder of an engine, an armature within the field of said electromagnets and provided with a means of adjustment, a movable electrode operatively connected with said armature, a spring to engage said armature, a fixed electrode in said cylinder projecting from a post connected with said electromagnets, a battery connected with said eleetromagnets, a brush stationary 011 and insulated from the engine and connected with said battery, a cam to communicate with the brush and connected with an operative part of the engine.

TALTER H. COTTON.

lVitnesses:

A. B. BATOHELDER, II. C. IIUNsnERonR. 

